Financial counseling is assisting clients in the development and creative use of all their resources to achieve economic financial security or well-being by generating alternatives from which the client chooses. Ultimately the client is assisted to improve quality of life with less wasteful resources. The processes are: (more…)

As of May 2002, consumers had about $712.2 billion outstanding in revolving credit, up about 6.8% from the previous year. Some of this credit is paid off each month; however, about 60% of U.S. households revolve some portion of their credit card balances. For those that revolve, the Federal Reserve Board reported that their balances were $4,100 in 1998. Other estimates show credit card balances as high as $8,000 in 2000 (McGinn et al. 2001). One out of five families with incomes under $50,000 spend at least 40% of after-tax income on debt servicing (Kennickell, Starr-McCluer, and Surette 2000). Needless to say, money spent on credit card debt is money that cannot go toward retirement savings. (more…)

In examining your financial condition and setting financial goals, you succeeded in nailing down where you are and where you’re going financially. But it’s important that you conduct these exercises at least annually. Keep the cash in a checking account, and watch it disappear! Wouldn’t it be better to put all the money you’ve saved on that extravaganza toward financing your child’s pay college education? (more…)

If your debt problem is not totally out of control, why not handle it yourself? It never hurts to ask lenders to lower your interest rates. Interest rates typically are not reported to credit bureaus. Some lenders may lower the rate to keep your business.

Do you want to be debt free? Do you want to be to travel the country and around the world without having to pay the bills? (more…)

The median price of a home as you read this article was running over $200,000. Don’t forget to throw in maintenance, insurance, and property taxes. To see if you can afford a home, with a mortgage, why not do the calculations that lenders do—before you get in over your head? (more…)

To make the most of your buying power, consider trade-offs. Suppose that you buy a sound system with a credit card instead of waiting until you have saved enough money to pay cash for it. You get the pleasure of having the sound system now. However, you may pay a higher price in the long run because of fees and credit card interest rates the credit card company charges for use of the card. (more…)

Throughout your life you will have many different financial needs and financial goals. By learning to use your money wisely now, you will be able to achieve many of those financial goals.

Financial planning involves choosing a career, and then learning how to protect and manage the money you earn. (more…)

How would you like to have a direct deposit on your account for each time you fill up your gas using your credit card? Sounds like a great deal, isn’t it? This is what you can get when you have a gas credit card. You will have discounts or rebates of every credit purchase you make for your fill ups. (more…)

Intuitively, many people know that if interest rates are low is not the time to spare, and if interest rates are high is not the time to invest (at least borrowing). Therefore, people are always outstanding read the newspaper, listen to the news on television and listen to renowned economists to know your views on the future of interest rates. (more…)

Do you want to be treated like a VIP when entering a car dealership; and so you can get a pre-approved auto loan easily? The amount of money you could pay for car payment has saved significantly for lower other monthly bills easily. (more…)